TL;DR: Cats paw at their mouths due to oral discomfort from dental issues or foreign objects, which is usually not an emergency unless accompanied by bleeding, heavy drooling, or distress.
What causes my cat to paw at their mouth?
When a cat paws excessively at their mouth, it is usually a behavioral reaction to physical discomfort or a sensation of something being out of place. This action, often referred to as 'mouthing,' can be caused by various factors including:
- Dental disease
- A broken tooth
- An oral infection
- A foreign object like a blade of grass or a piece of string caught in the teeth or under the tongue
Is my cat pawing at their mouth a medical emergency?
The urgency level for this behavior is generally Low, provided your cat is still able to breathe normally and is not showing signs of extreme distress. If your cat is still eating and drinking, you can typically wait to see your regular veterinarian during normal business hours. However, you should seek a veterinary consultation sooner if the pawing is accompanied by:
- Heavy drooling
- Bleeding
- An inability to close the mouth
How does taking a photo of my cat's mouth help with triage?
If your cat allows it, taking a clear photo or video of the mouth area can be an invaluable tool for your veterinary team. Sharing high-quality visuals during a triage call helps the clinic by:
- Identifying visible issues such as inflamed gums, ulcers, or visible foreign bodies
- Determining if your cat needs to be squeezed in for an urgent appointment or if the situation can wait for a scheduled visit
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
When a cat presents with pawing at the mouth, potential causes include feline stomatitis, oral foreign bodies, neoplasms, injuries, or other mucosal defects. Infectious diseases such as rabies (which must be eliminated as a possibility before oral examination), the nervous form of distemper, or other convulsive disorders should be considered. Additional differentials include reluctance to swallow due to esophageal irritation or obstruction, sublingual lesions, tonsillitis, administration of medicine (particularly in cats), conformational defects, metabolic disorders such as hepatic encephalopathy (especially in cats) or uremia, and abscess or other inflammatory conditions of the salivary gland. Halitosis and drooling (possibly blood-tinged) are common, and regional lymph nodes may be enlarged. The animal may resent any attempt to examine the oral cavity due to pain.
Chapter: Dermatology
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 362)